Flash-light holder



June 18, 1929. s, KAPLAN 1,717.386

FLASH LIGHT HOLDER Filed Nov. 21, 1927 Patented June 18, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL KAPLAN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T HARRYBRENNER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

FLASH-LIGHT HOLDER.

Application filed November 21, 1927. Serial No. 234,638.

This invention relates to article holders and has particular referenceto a device for sup porting a flash light or its equivalent in aposition convenient and suitable for directing the light in the mostfavorable direction in connection with a mechanic or artisan, therebyleaving his arms and hands freefor the performance of his mechanicalwork such as in the handling of the tools or the like.

More definitely stated, among the objects of the invention is to providea device for the holding reliably of a flash light upon or above onesshoulder and in such position that the lamp may be directed at anydesired angle and be out ofthe way of the operators hands and arms andyet to hold the lamp reliably'in the most favorable position not onlybecause the lamp is out of the way, but because the rays or beam oflight therefrom will be directed most favorably with respect to theoperators eyes.

A further object of the invention is to improve the supporting means forthe lamp and also to improve the means for attaching the lamp to theperson in such a manner that it will be held most reliably from falling,slipping, or becoming misplaced, irrespective of the operator.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention" consists inthe arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described andclaimed, and while the inven-v tion is not restricted to the exactdetails of construction disclosed or suggested herein,

still for the purpose of illustrating a practical embodiment thereofreference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like referencecharacters designate the same parts in the several views, and in which-Figure 1 is a diagram showing the relation of the lamp and supportingmeans to the operator or person.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the lamp and immediate shoulder piece asviewed toward the left in Fig. 1, the lamp holding bracket beingdeflected at a different angle.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig.2, showing particularly the manner of construction of the base orshoulder piece.

Fig. 4 is a vertical detail view of the arm pit yoke.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. (Sis a detail View an the line ee of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a detail of a modification of fastening means.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings I show'my improved flashlight holder as comprising a shoulder piece having a pad 10 ofapproximately rectangular form and composed of a sheet or sheets ofpliable material such as rubber, leather, or any composition of similarpliable material and adapted to rest upon the operators shoulder.Attached to this pad is a base of solid or rigid material such as ablock of wood 11 preferably covered with a sheath 12 of metal or itsequivalent for strength and durability and to provide a neat andreliable finish. The block 11 in cross section is indicated as of foursides and substantially in the form of trapezium, having an outer longerside, a shorter inner side, and a horizontal top side or surface. Thebottom of the block has direct attachment to the pad 10 as by means oftacks, nails, or screws 13, and'likewise the sheath 12 is securedpermanently to the block 11. The block is recessed at 14 from the topand at 15 from the bottom, the two recesses being in alignment with eachother and connected bya bore 16;

Attached permanently and rigidly to the top of the block is a pedestalor coupling member 17 having a head 18 fitted in the recess 14 and amarginal flange 19 resting upon the top of the block. 20 indicates'acoupling member having a head seated in the recess 15 against a bearingwasher 21 and having its shank screw threaded into the head 18. Whenthese parts are screwed tightly together the coupling 17 is lockedfirmly in the position indicated. The coupling member 20 may be rotatedby means of a wrench or other tool operated through or into the recess15. The head of the coupling member is provided with a threaded socket22 for the attachment of the light holder to any mechanical support suchas a photographers tripod or the like, the screw of which, not shown, isadapted to pass through the recess 15 and into the head of the member20.

The flash light L of any suitable construction is adapted to be insertedand held in a 24 extending through a U-shaped bracket 25 I which in turnis fixed upon a head 26 rotatable around a vertical pivot 27 extendingdownward through or into the coupling 17. These several relativelymovable parts are suitably connected by friction so that they will standand hold in any position in which the lamp may be adjusted. That is tosay, by grasping the lamp in the operators hand he may swing it up ordown around the axis of the bolt 24: or laterally to any extent aroundthe vertical axis of the pivot 27 and the lamp when so held will not beobstructed by the operators face or head and will be high enough uponhis shoulder to insure a complete universal movement in any directionand to any desired extent. Moreover, if so held the light from the lampwill. be in a position to be most favorable for best results and Withoutcausing any glare or other objectionable condition with respect to theoperators eyes.

The means for supporting the shoulder piece in the position indicatedincludes a pair of straps 28 shown as connected as by hollow rivets 29to the pad 10 and preferably at "the upper or inner corners thereof.

The strap 30 extends transversely beneath the operators opposite arm andis connected at 31 as by rivets or the like to the lower end of a yoke32 having a shank 33 and an arm pad 84. The pad 34 is suitably shaped tofit into the operators armpit and the shank 33 extends downward severalinches therefrom so as to bring the strap 30 at a convenient 0sitionbeneath the arm pit. The ends of the strap 30 may be connected by anysuitable means including adjustment buckles and contractile coil springs85 to the ends of the straps 28 remote from the shoulder pad 10. Byvirtue of the yoke 32 the attachment means for the shoulder piece arebrought down into the most favorable positionand the lamp base andpedestal features are held reliably in the desired position on theoperators shoulder irrespective of his activities in the use of his armsand hands in the handling of his tools. The device may be applied to theperson by slipping it over his head after passing first over the armremote from the supporting shoulder or the fastening connections betweenthe straps may be parted at any desired'point so as to enable the deviceto be passed around his person. To this end in Fig. 7 I show the use ofa hook and link 36 to take the place of one of the rivets 29 forattachment of one of the straps to the shoulder pad 10. The spr'ings35enable the device to be fitted to persons of different sizes or to thesame person diifc rently dressed according to the weather withoutdiscomfort or inconvenience and, moreover, the springs always hold thelamp with a certain firmness or degree of tension that is most agreeablefor the purpose in view. I claim: 1. In a flash light holder, a shoulderpiece comprising a pad of flexible material, a base block of solidmaterial lixed to the pad supported thereby, said base block having asheath of stronger material secured thereto as a covering, the blockbeing recessed, a clamp for holding the lamp, universal jointconnections for the clamp, and a coupling between said universalconnections and the block comprising a hub projecting into the block andhaving a flange fitted against the top of the block, and strap meansextending from the shoulder pad, substantially as set forth.

2. In a flash light holder, a clamp for a lamp, a pedestal adapted toseat on a shoulder of the user of the lamp, said pedestal serving tosupport said clamp, flexible means extending from the pedestal downwardand toward the opposite side of the users body, and a member to engagethe lowermost portion of said means and .the armpit of the user to spacethe same below the armpit, and retain the said means extending downwardat an angle to hold the pedestal reliably on the shoulder.

3. Ina flash light holder, a clamp for alamp, a base adapted to seat onausers shoulder, a holding means to position said clamp on said base,and tension means tohold the base on the shoulder, said base having aninternally threaded portion in the bottom thereof having engagement withthe holding means to secure the latter on the base, said portion openingdownward to receive an upward extending clamping screw of a support.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

SAMUEL KAPLAN.

